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| Tonic Herbs : Supplemental therapy - Page 9
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Now, let's take a look a just a few of the tonic herbs that can help with rebuilding.
American Ginseng
Ginseng has a mystique about it that has grown over the last few decades in the West. It has been called an "adaptogen" which is a word coined by Russian researchers to refer to any herb or other agent that increases the ability to adapt. Ginseng acts as a tonic to restore normality and to increase the nonspecific resistance of bodies to diseases and other "changes" away from normal health. In other words, it helps one to physically and emotionally adapt to the stress of the environment (air pollution, noise, chemicals, emotional duress).
Herbalists have found that ginseng has helped in the following ways:
- It enhances immunity.
- It regulates blood pressure.
- It normalizes the flow of blood by either thinning or increasing the blood's clotting ability, depending on circumstances.
- It is considered an anti-oxidative agent and thus neutralizes free radicals which can cause cancer.
- It strengthens the heart.
- It stimulates recovery from surgery and debilitating infectious diseases.
One of the best ways to take ginseng is to steam the root until it is soft enough cut and then slice it into pieces the thickness of a penny. Suck or chew on a piece each day. It can also be taken in capsules, liquid extracts and pills.
American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) is bitter, sweet and moistening with a cooling quality. It affects the lungs, stomach and kidney and is a mild chi (building vital energy) tonic. It is classified in Chinese medicine as a "yin" tonic.
Yin refers to the vital essence and all the fluid aspects of the body; lymph, muscles, connective tissues, reproductive secretions, lubricating secretions of the mucous membranes, skin and joints and hormonal secretions. Many of my herbal colleagues feel that American ginseng is well suited to the stressed, overworked, and overactive Americans who have injured their vital essences.
Astragalus
Astragalus (Radix astragali membranaceus) is one of the most popular rejuvenating and building herbs used in China. In the last few years, it has also been gaining deserved recognition in the West. Its warm, sweet energy strengthens the spleen, lungs, kidneys and blood. Astragalus is used to increase energy, build resistance to disease, balance the energy of all the internal organs, neutralize fevers and improve digestion. It is also a valuable diuretic. In addition, it helps to strengthen the legs and arms and has been extensively used by people who work outdoors or who are physically active. Taken on somewhat of a regular basis, especially during the fall and winter months, astragalus may help one to stay healthier and more energized.
This herb is useful for treating weakness or debility as well, and may be taken to help overcome deep immune deficiencies. Since it can help anyone to rebuild and rejuvenate, it is especially beneficial for those recovering from an illness and those who have a compromised immune system.
Many gardeners, including ourselves, have successfully grown astragalus here in the West. It can be purchased organic from some distributors as well.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) literally means "that which has the smell of a horse, as it gives the vitality of a horse." This is one of the main rejuvenative herbs used in India for general debility, sexual debility, nervous exhaustion, problems of old age, emaciation of children, and tissue deficiency. It holds a place in Ayurvedic pharmacology similar to what ginseng holds in Chinese medicine; however, it is much less expensive.
A calming herb, ashwagandha nurtures and clarifies the mind, promoting deep, peaceful sleep. It is also good for weakened, pregnant women and helps to stabilize the fetus. It can be used externally for wounds, ulcers and sores. You can make a paste from the herb by mixing it with some water and then applying to the area. This herb has also been cultivated successfully here in the West. We have grown several crops and it can be purchased organically from different distributors as well.
Marshmallow Root
Althaea officinalis is the botanical name of marshmallow which come from the Greek meaning " to heal" and has been used by humans since Egyptian times. The root, rich is complex sugars, is very mucilaginous and softening for the tissues. The leaves are not as mucilaginous as the roots are but can be used as an expectorant and as a soothing remedy for the urinary system. All members of the mallow family have similar properties. These include hollyhocks, common mallows ( which grow all in many places all over the US) and okra.
The flowers, which are rarely available commercially, can be gathered from the garden and are mainly used to make an expectorant syrup for coughs. The hollyhock flowers can be used a substitute if you do not have the marshmallow. These are harvested as they open in the summer.
The marshmallow leaves are used to soothe and heal bronchial and urinary disorders including bronchitis, irritating coughs and cystitis. They are harvested after the flowering is completed in late summer.
The root is the most potent part however. It is used for wounds, burns boils and skin ulceration. Internally, it is extremely soothing to any inflammations of the mucous membranes; such as gastritis ( inflammation of the stomach lining), peptic ulceration, esophagitis, inflammation of the intestinal tract ( such as Chrone's disease or ulcerative colitis), and urinary tract inflammation. The best time to harvest the root is in the fall or winter.
In my practice, I use marshmallow on a regular basis. It is an invaluable component to many of my formulas. Many of the cleansing herbs can be too drying and astringent and prolonged use can create too much dryness in a person. With the addition of marshmallow root to the formula it helps the tissues to retain their suppleness. In our healing salves, we always add marshmallow to help the skin to mend. This herb is very easy to grow and we have several of them in our garden. But beware, gophers love the sweet roots!
Cinnamon, Cardamom, and Fennel are all carminative, warming to the interior and strengthening to the digestion, thus help with the extraction of the Vital essence which is within food.
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